IS IT MUST TO DO BAIT I have spent a lot of time with the Tablighi Jammat and keep going with them regularly. We keep hearing from brothers in the line of Ziker about the Bait and its implications and positive effects, they also say if you do not have a spiritual guide then shaytaan becomes your Ameer. I want to know, (1) Is it must to do bait and if bait is not done the person will be committing a sin. (2) How to find a Wali and be sure that he is the right person to do bait. (3) If bait is made and the person to whom bait is made he stop from going with Jammat then what to do.
In the Name of Allah, the Inspirer of Truth. Assalamu Alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh
Bay'ah is not an essential aspect of Islam and one will not be sinful for this.
However, one's spiritual reformation is essential and it is generally experienced that the best way to go about this is to adopt the company of a pious person (a spiritual guide who has received Ijazah from a reputable and authentic Shaikh) to whom one can relate to regarding one's spiritual weaknesses and bad habits and act upon his advice.
It is very much like consulting a Doctor for one's physical sicknesses. Being qualified and a specialist in the field of medicine, he is considered the best person to consult when one falls sick. Likewise, common sense would dictate the same for spiritual sicknesses as well as progressing in the path of sulook through developing a greater sense of awareness of Allah (SWT), becoming ware of the deception of the Nafs and Shaitaan, etc.
The actual act of taking Bay'ah will make the whole process of self-reformation more formal and will help the Mureed to take the path of sulook with seriousness.
(2) Finding a Shaikh - This very much depends on 'Munasabat' i.e. compatibility. In order to derive benefit from one's sheikh, one has to find him approachable and compatible. Therefore, it is advisable not to hasten when in search of a Sheikh. Rather, one should initially consult a number of Shuyookh, observe their Majaalis, sit in their company before eventually deciding. Istikharah should also be made.
(3) An authentic Sheikh will not stop his Mureed from going in Jamaat unless he perceives a specific issue which is acting as barrier for the mureed's reformation. This will not be on the basis of personal conflict with the actual effort of Tabligh bur rather for a malady which the sheikh may have noticed within the Mureed, in which case it would be essential for the mureed to comply.
And Allah knows Best Wa Alaykumussalaam Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh http://www.foodguide.org.uk
